Jaylen Brown in the Rockets’ sights?

The summer is likely to be eventful in Massachusetts, since in addition to having to look into the Grant Williams file, the leaders of the Celtics will have to focus on extending the contract of Jaylen Brownauthor of his best career season (26.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals).

‘Free agent’ in the summer of 2024, the 26-year-old fullback/winger is still set to hit $30.7m in 2023/24, but there’s no guarantee it will be Boston who will pay for them, since he might have to pack his bags this summer. Especially if the negotiations about his re-signing take a bad turn and teams take the opportunity to be aggressive about him.

Prioritize status or money?

According to ESPN Radioit may be that the Rockets are among the franchises interested in Jaylen Brown, this summer or next. In reconstruction, while a return to the fold of James Harden is mentioned, they could offer the 3rd choice of the 2016 Draft a leadership status that he does not have with the Celtics, given the presence of Jayson Tatum.

Therefore, by offering him the maximum financially and increased responsibilities on the floor, the leaders of Houston would have enough to seduce “JB” in the summer of 2024. But to interest Boston this year, it would take a lot, because the player is in full force of age and his best seasons are supposed to be ahead of him.

Still, the Celtics have their hands on the Jaylen Brown file (and the new collective agreement will help them in this regard…), because they will be able to offer him more than any team and, from 2023. By putting themselves more in the red financially, but in order to avoid an embarrassing situation where their All-Star would test the market and be free to sign wherever they please in a year.

For now, here are in any case the various offers that Boston leaders could submit to their rear / winger in a few months.

• $161 million over four yearsCurrently.
• $189 million over four yearswith the new collective agreement.
• $290 million over five yearsif named to an All-NBA Team (supermax).

Statements that do not rule out a departure…

The only downside on the Celtics side: recent statements by Jaylen Brown, who had been evasive about his future in Massachusetts. He who, remember, had been mentioned in discussions to land in Brooklyn in exchange for Kevin Durant.

” I don’t know… As long as I’m needed… It’s not up to me… We’ll see what they think of me over time and what I think of them over time. Hopefully, whatever it is, it makes sense. But I will stay where they want me. Where I’m needed and where I’m treated right. […] I just appreciate the times that we are currently living. If it’s to play there all my career, then it will be for all my career. If it doesn’t, it won’t… Some of the greatest players didn’t end their careers in the same franchise. […] Even if we feel good somewhere and we like to live there, we will see where life takes us. We can see how this evolves. All we can do is focus on what is in front of us. But I don’t know and I don’t want to answer this question because that kind of stuff drives fans to speculation and they go crazy. For the moment, I will simply say that we will see when the time comes. »

To make matters worse, Jaylen Brown doesn’t say she’s completely comfortable with some Boston fans.

” It’s not about all the Celtics fans, but there is a problematic part of the fans. If you make a bad match, they relate it to your personality. I really think there’s a small part of Celtic Nation that is extremely toxic and doesn’t want to see athletes use their platform, just wants us to play basketball and entertain them and we go home. This is a problem for me. »

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.